1 . New research by scientists at the University of Bristol explains how a “stop－start” pattern of evolution,governed by environmental change,could explain why crocodiles (鳄鱼) have changed so little since the age of the dinosaurs.
Crocodiles today look very similar to ones from 200 million years ago. There are also very few species alive today—just 25. Other animals such as lizards and birds have achieved a diversity of many thousands of species in the same amount of time. Prehistory also saw types of crocodile we don’t see today,including giants as big as dinosaurs,plant－eaters,fast runners and snakelike forms that lived in the sea.
The rate of their evolution is generally slow,but occasionally they evolve more apace because the environment has changed. In particular,this new research suggests that their evolution speeds up when the climate is warmer,and that their body size increases.
Lead author Dr. Max Stockdale said,“Our analysis used a machine learning algorithm (算法) to estimate rates of evolution. Evolutionary rate is the amount of change that has taken place over a given amount of time,which we can work out by comparing measurements from fossils and taking into account how old they are. For our study we measured body size,which is important because it interacts with how fast animals grow,how much food they need,how big their populations are and how likely they are to die out.”
The findings show that the limited diversity of crocodiles and their apparent lack of evolution result from a slow evolutionary rate. It seems the crocodiles arrived with an already efficient and versatile (多功能的) body plan that doesn’t require changes. This versatility could be one explanation why crocodiles survived the meteor (流星) impact at the end of the Cretaceous period,in which the dinosaurs died out. Crocodiles generally develop better in warm conditions because they cannot control their body temperature and require warmth from the environment.
1. What do we know about prehistoric crocodiles?| A．They fed mainly on plants and lived in the ocean. |
| B．They evolved much faster than contemporary birds. |
| C．They were more diverse in species than present crocodiles. |
| D．They differed greatly in appearance from present crocodiles. |
| A．Naturally. | B．Steadily. |
| C．Separately. | D．Quickly. |
| A．growth rate | B．food choice |
| C．length of life | D．speed of evolution |
| A．What determines crocodiles’ body size |
| B．Why crocodiles have changed so little |
| C．How crocodiles have evolved since their existence |
| D．What effects climate has on the evolution of crocodiles |
2 . Children are celebrated and doted on in the Land of Smiles,making it a great place for a family holiday. Besides the Thais’ natural love for kids,Thailand’s affordability,weather and lots of activities make it a perfect getaway destination. Here is our list of the best family-friendly places to visit in Thailand.
Phuket
Phuket is one of Thailand’s most popular destinations. From beautiful beaches and a fascinating old town to aquariums and horseback riding,Phuket has them all. Many of the island’s resorts (度假胜地) offer children’s clubs and babysitting services,enabling mum and dad to get a well-earned break,too. Phuket is easily reached from most parts of Thailand and has direct flights from many other countries.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai,Thailand’s mountainous cultural center,is a fantastic place to travel with the whole family. Chiang Mai has a calm and relaxed atmosphere and is small enough to easily gain your direction. Here,you’ll find plenty of fun and exciting activities for all ages,including museums,local markets,cooking schools and much more.
Krabi
The beach lovers’ destination Krabi is the perfect place to relax. Not only are some of the country’s best beaches in Krabi,but it is also a fantastic place to pick up a snorkel (呼吸管) and mask and become acquainted with Thailand’s beautiful underwater world. In the surrounding area,there are also plenty of options for fun day trips to national parks,waterfalls,elephant sanctuaries (保护区) or,for older kids,rock climbing in some of the world’s best climbing spots.
Koh Samui
Koh Samui has long been one of Thailand’s most popular family holiday destinations. It almost has everything one would want. Many resorts have kids’ programs on offer,and you’ll find plenty of family-friendly activities to choose from. For something a little different,take your tribe to make new furry friends by volunteering at the animal rescue center for the day.
1. What is the feature of Phuket?| A．It is easy to get lost there. | B．It has convenient transportation. |
| C．It offers some voluntary work. | D．It is the cultural center of Thailand. |
| A．Diving. | B．Riding elephants. |
| C．Visiting museums. | D．Making furry friends. |
| A．Phuket. | B．Chiang Mai. |
| C．Krabi. | D．Koh Samui. |
3 . It is a known fact that colors have an impact on our health.
Research into the physiological effects of color has shown our spirit is lifted by warm colors.
Nutritionists and medical researchers have emphasized that we should take in a rainbow of colors.
| A．We use colors to describe our well-being. |
| B．Blue light is used for a calming effect in some mental hospitals. |
| C．Research has found that colors can affect how we feel emotionally. |
| D．Colors play an important part in people’s daily life and everyday work. |
| E．Red, orange, and yellow are the colors that energize and deliver warmth. |
| F．The stronger the colors are, the more depressed your mood will become. |
| G．That is to include all the colors of fruits and vegetables in our diet to stay healthy. |
4 . Where to find your favorite food may be one main thing that comes to your mind while travelling. Thankfully, fast food services are available across the world. Followings are some fast food services across the world.
Papa John’s Pizza
Papa John’s is the fourth largest pizza delivery service in the US. This service is available in 34 countries in total. Out of 4,000 restaurants of Papa John’s, 3,200 are situated in the United States. The founder, John Schnatter opened the first restaurant of Papa John’s Pizza in 1984 in Indiana. “Better ingredients, Better pizza” is the slogan of Papa John’s pizza service.
In 2002, Papa John’s became the first pizza chain service in the United States with online ordering facility. Today, over 205,000 employees work in Papa John’s with a net revenue of US$1.4 billion.
Dairy Queen
The Dairy Queen service is available in 6,000 locations across the world. Dairy Queen operates in 18 countries apart from the United States. Among the US states, Texas has the most number of Dairy Queen restaurants — 600 restaurants.
Dairy Queen was founded by John Fremont McCullough in 1940. The first Dairy Queen store started in Joliet city of Illinois state. Soft serve ice cream is the signature product of Dairy Queen. It has also featured on company logo. The stores of DQ also serve burgers, French fries, processed fried chicken, frozen treats and hot dogs.
Starbucks
Seattle-based Starbucks is the largest coffee company in the world. Starbucks has 23,187 stores across 64 countries. Among them, 12,973 are located in the US. Starbucks serves cold & hot beverages, wines, beer and snacks. Starbucks offers 87,000 drink combinations for the customers.
Starbucks was founded in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker and Zev Siegl. Interestingly, since 1987, Starbucks has been adding minimum two new stores on daily basis. They also use 93 million gallons of milk and 2.3 billion paper cups per year for the service.
1. Which of the following brands is the earliest to be founded?| A．Papa John’s Pizza. | B．Starbucks. |
| C．Dairy Queen. | D．Better Pizza. |
| A．They all operate in over 15 countries. |
| B．They have the same problems now. |
| C．They all set up the first store in China. |
| D．They are all located in the US states. |
| A．It is the largest food company in the world. |
| B．Its stores have been increasing since 1987. |
| C．Its ice cream is the hottest product in its stores. |
| D．It sticks to the idea of the environmental protection. |
5 . Thinking hard for several hours can leave us feeling mentally tired — and now we may know why. Prolonged concentration leads to the build-up of a compound called glutamate (谷氨酸盐) in regions at the front of the brain. This may provide an explanation as to why we avoid difficult tasks when mentally exhausted: the glutamate overload makes further mental work difficult.
Too much glutamate is potentially harmful, says Antonius Wiehler at the Paris Brain Institute in France, who led the research. “The brain wants to avoid this, so it is trying to reduce activity.”
To learn more, Wiehler and his team used a technique called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), which measures levels of various chemicals in living tissue harmlessly. They focused on a region towards the front and sides of the brain called the lateral prefrontal cortex (侧前额叶皮层), which much previous work has shown is involved in difficult mental tasks.
The team asked 40 people to do memory tasks while lying in an MRS scanner. These included watching sequences of numbers appear on a screen and stating if the current number was the same as a previous one. Twenty-six of the participants did a harder version of this task, while the other 14 were given an easier one.
Levels of eight different brain chemicals were measured, including glutamate. After completing the memory tasks for six hours, those doing the harder version had raised levels of glutamate in their lateral prefrontal cortex compared with the start of the experiment. In those doing the easier task, levels stayed about the same. Across all participants, there was no rise in the other seven brain chemicals that were measured.
Among the participants doing the harder tasks, their glutamate level rise corresponded with dilation (扩大) of the pupils (瞳孔) in their eyes, another broad measure of exhaust. Those doing the simpler task reported feeling tired, but had no glutamate rise or pupil dilation.
“Measuring brain glutamate could be used to reveal how hard a region of the brain has been working,” says Reto Huber at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. “We never had a good measure for that on the molecular (分子的) or neurotransmitter (神经传递素) level. This looks really promising. It could potentially be used by doctors to assess people with conditions that can make concentrating difficult.”
1. Why does the brain reduce activity when it feels mentally tired according to the text?| A．To stop causing damage to memories. | B．To prevent glutamate from harming us. |
| C．To complete more difficult work. | D．To make quick decisions. |
| A．By monitoring pupils’ glutamate levels. |
| B．By monitoring the participants’ responses to different tasks. |
| C．By comparing the changes of participants’ chemical levels after tasks. |
| D．By analyzing different people’s glutamate levels. |
| A．We will have a good measure for brain glutamate in the future. |
| B．Measuring brain glutamate can show which brain area is working. |
| C．We have a new direction in studying the brain glutamate. |
| D．Measuring brain glutamate may be adopted in medicine. |
| A．How to relax your brain after thinking hard for several hours. |
| B．Why thinking hard for several hours can make you mentally tired. |
| C．What can you do to help your brain make right decisions. |
| D．What makes you tired after working for a long time. |
6 . Electric vehicles (EVs) have long been advertised as environmentally friendly vehicles. This is true, to some extent. EVs do not emit any carbon dioxide into the environment, unlike conventional cars.
But scientists foresee a new problem. Cars run on batteries, and electric cars are no different. So once the battery reaches the end of its useful life, what will be done with it?
As the number of electric vehicles in use increases greatly, scientists must discover an effective recycling method for EV batteries.
While electric cars and gas-powered cars essentially function in the same way, a major difference between the two is their batteries.
Electric vehicles use lithium-ion (锂离子) batteries, which are larger and heavier than a non-EV car’s lead-acid (铅酸) batteries. Instead of fuel, EVs rely directly on their batteries for a source of energy.
When charging, electricity triggers (引起) chemical changes within the battery. On the road, the chemical changes are converted into electricity, thus powering the car. The continuous charge-discharge process reduces the charge (电荷) the battery can hold. Thus, the distance and time between the car’s next charging session decreases.
The battery’s average lifespan ranges from five to eight years to 10-20 at most, so drivers will need to replace EV batteries many times in the car’s life.
A major issue with EV batteries is the inconvenience they pose during dismantling (拆卸). EV batteries are made up of several hundred lithium-ion cells. Each cell contains risky materials and must be dismantled individually. If not dismantled correctly, the battery cells may even explode.
Additionally, recycling methods that do exist for these batteries are energy- and cost-intensive. In fact, in the European Union and the US, lithium-ion battery recycling rates are only 5%.
Companies are trying to find solutions. Nissan, a car company, is reusing their electric car batteries in automated guided vehicles in their factories. These vehicles deliver car parts to workers. Volkswagen also uses its batteries like Nissan, but also recently opened its first recycling plant.
1. What can we learn from the sixth paragraph?| A．The chemical changes within the battery can power the car directly. |
| B．The charge process can prolong the life of the battery. |
| C．The battery’s lifespan may be affected by the continuous use of the car. |
| D．Chemical changes have no effect on the battery. |
| A．The complexity and danger when dismantling EV batteries. |
| B．Battery charging is very complex. |
| C．A lack of charging equipment for EVs. |
| D．Battery recycling performance is poor. |
| A．Some companies are improving the battery’s lifespan. |
| B．Some companies are establishing EV plants. |
| C．EVs are becoming more and more popular these days. |
| D．Recycling methods help solve the EVs’ battery problem. |
7 . A study from the University of Montreal and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, published in Frontiers in Medicine, found that regular virtual visits to museums could help seniors stay mentally active and come with a host of additional health benefits. That’s because these digital connections can make retirees feel less lonely and isolated (孤立的).
Social isolation has been associated with the risks for heart disease and the decline of recognition abilities in seniors and the pandemic (疫情) increased the risks due to the need for seniors to stay home and isolate, according to a press release from the university.
The researchers investigated the potential benefits of weekly virtual visits for a three-month period. The participants were people aged 65 and older who lived in Montreal. Half of the participants took part in online visits and a discussion afterwards, while the control group did not participate in any cultural events at all. The group who participated in the virtual visits showed improvements in their quality of life. “Our study showed that art-based activities may be an effective intervention,” lead author Dr. Olivier Beauchet, a professor at the University of Montreal, said in the press release. “On a global scale, this participatory art-based activity could become a model that could be offered in museums and arts institutions worldwide to promote active and healthy aging.”
The initiative reflects approaches recommended by the World Health Organization to manage certain diseases, according to Beauchet. For instance, the WHO launched the Aging and Health Program in 2015 that included using community-based organizations to promote culture as a key component of improving health. Traditionally, these sorts of preventive health activities have taken place in schools, community centers, and workplaces. “While these are suitable locations that reach a great number of people, there are additional organizations and sectors that could become partners in public health research and practice development,” Beauchet said. “Museums are among such potential partners. They are aware of the needs of their communities and are consequently expanding the types of activities they offer.”
1. How do seniors benefit from regular virtual visits to museums?| A．They get survival skills. | B．They raise interest in art. |
| C．They improve quality of life. | D．They connect more with family. |
| A．Participants come from the whole world. | B．The museum needs better cultural events. |
| C．Face-to-face discussion is a useful intervention. | D．Seniors should attend more art-based activities. |
| A．To advocate. | B．To entertain. | C．To advertise. | D．To warn. |
| A．The Aged Form a Community to Reduce Loneliness |
| B．Virtual Art-based Activities Bring People Together |
| C．Online Museum Trips Improve Seniors’ Well being |
| D．Retired Individuals Pay More Visits to Museums |
8 . Birthdays often involve surprises. But this year’s surprise on the birthday of the great British playwright William Shakespeare is surely one of the most dramatic.
On April 22, one day before his 441st birthday anniversary, experts discovered that one of the most recognizable portraits of William Shakespeare is a fake. This means that we no longer have a good idea of what Shakespeare looked like. “It’s very possible that many pictures of Shakespeare might be unreliable because many of them are copies of this one,” said an expert from Britain’s National Portrait Gallery.
The discovery comes after four months of testing using X rays, ultraviolet light, microphotography and paint samples. The experts from the gallery say the image commonly known as the “Flower portrait”—was actually painted in the 1800s, about two centuries after Shakespeare’s death. The art experts who work at the gallery say they also used modern chemistry technology to check the paint on the picture. These checks found traces of paint dating from about 1814. Shakespeare died in 1616, and the date that appears on the portrait is 1609.
“We now think the portrait dates back to around 1818 to 1840. This was when there was a renewed interest in Shakespeare’s plays,” Tarnya Cooper, the gallery’s curator (馆长), told the Associated President.
The fake picture has often been used as a cover for collections of his plays. It is called the Flower portrait because one of its owners, Desmond Flower, gave it to the Royal Shakespeare S Company.
“There have always been questions about the painting,” said David Howells, curator for the Royal Shakespeare Company. “Now we know the truth, we can put the image in its proper place in the history of Shakespearean portraiture.”
Two other images of Shakespeare, are also being studied as part of the investigation and the results will come out later this month. .
1. What makes the birthday of Shakespeare dramatic this year?| A．It was found that he painted a portrait in 1814 instead of in 1609. |
| B．The Flower portrait has been found to be a fake. |
| C．Three portraits of Shakespeare are being tested to identify a real one. |
| D．It was found that there was a renewed interest in Shakespeare’s plays around 1818 to 1840. |
| A．Not mentioned. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．At least four. |
| A．Soon we’ll know which portrait is reliable. |
| B．Maybe we cannot find a real portrait of Shakespeare. |
| C．If the two portraits are found to be false, they will test more. |
| D．For now what Shakespeare really looked like will remain a mystery. |
| A．the surprise on the 441st bithday of Shakespeare | B．birthdays often involve surprises |
| C．one portrait of Shakespeare is a fake | D．how can we know Shakespeare’s appearance |
9 . One evening in 2014, feeling bored, Paul O’Sullivan from Baltimore went to Face book to find out just how many others on the social network shared his name. Moments later, Paul O’Sullivan had many name twins from around the world filling his screen. He decided to send friend requests (请求) to them all.
Many Paul O’Sullivans paid little attention to him, but a few took up his invitation. “My first thought was ‘Who is this guy and what does he want from me?’” says Paul O’Sullivan from Rotterdam, the Netherlands — now known as Rotterdam Paul.
Baltimore Paul noticed something four of them had in common: They were all musicians. He had an idea. Wouldn’t it be funny if they formed a band (乐队) called The Paul O’Sullivans? They all agreed.
Starting a band across several time zones means a lot of problems, like shaky Wi-Fi and other technical difficulties. To fix this, they came up with a special idea. Baltimore Paul and Rotterdam Paul record a basic track (音轨), then e-mail it to Manchester Paul. Once Manchester Paul records a bass track, he e-mails it buck to Baltimore Paul, who then builds it into the main song. Later, Pennsylvania Paul adds the drumbeat. Round and round the track goes until they achieve the sound they want.
The Paul O’Sullivan Band released (发布) its first song, “Namesake,” in March 2016. It’s a cheerful song about long-distance friendships:
But just months after the song’s release, Baltimore Paul began experiencing health problems that forced him to stop making music. The other Pauls decided to take a break too — from the band.
But they didn’t stop their friendship. The other Pauls made sure Baltimore Paul never felt alone. They often shared family pictures and talked online.
Four years later, Baltimore Paul was well enough to start making music again. But now their international connection took on new meaning. “Writing a song with someone across the world makes you feel less trapped (困住) and less unhappy because of COVID-19,” says Baltimore Paul.
1. How did Rotterdam Paul feel about Baltimore Paul’s request at first?| A．Curious. | B．Excited. | C．Nervous. | D．Annoyed. |
| A．By recording their song at the same time online. |
| B．By getting together and recording a small part each time. |
| C．By making a piece of music and adding their tracks separately. |
| D．By inventing new technology allowing them to record together. |
| A．One of them was ill. | B．One of them was too busy. |
| C．They wanted to change their style. | D．They found it hard to work online. |
| A．Wealth. | B．Comfort. | C．Many concerts. | D．More friendships. |
10 . Is it true that our brain alone is responsible for human cognition(认知)? What about our body? Is it possible for thought and behaviour to originate from somewhere other than our brain? Psychologists who study Embodied Cognition(EC)ask similar questions. The EC theory suggests our body is also responsible for thinking or problem-solving. More precisely, the mind shapes the body and the body shapes the mind in equal measure.
If you think about it for a moment, it makes total sense. When you smell something good or hear amusing sounds, certain emotions are awakened. Think about how newborns use their senses to understand the world around them. They don’t have emotions so much as needs – they don’t feel sad, they’re just hungry and need food. Even unborn babies can feel their mothers’ heartbeats, and this has a calming effect. In the real world, they cry when they’re cold and then get hugged. That way, they start to associate being warm with being loved.
Further studies have backed up the mind-body interaction. In one experiment, test subjects were asked to judge people after being handed a hot or a cold drink. They all made warm evaluations when their fingertips perceived warmth rather than coolness. And it works the other way too. In another study, subjects’ fingertip temperatures were measured after being “included” in or “rejected” from a group task. Those who were included felt physically warmer.
For further proof, we can look at the metaphors(比喻)that we use without even thinking. A kind and sympathetic person is frequently referred to as one with a soft heart and someone who is very strong and calm in difficult situations is often described as solid as a rock. And this kind of metaphorical use is common across languages.
Now that you have the knowledge of mind-body interaction, why not use it? If you’re having a bad day, a warm cup of tea will give you a flash of pleasure. If you know you’re physically cold, warm up before making any interpersonal decisions.
1. According to the author, what is the significance of EC?| A．It brings us closer to the truth in human cognition. |
| B．It offers a clearer picture of the shape of human brain. |
| C．It reveals the major role of the mind in human cognition. |
| D．It facilitates our understanding of the origin of psychology. |
| A．Their personal looks. | B．Their mental needs. |
| C．Their inner emotions. | D．Their physical feelings. |
| A．Human speech is alive with metaphors. |
| B．Human senses have effects on thinking. |
| C．Human language is shaped by visual images. |
| D．Human emotions are often compared to natural materials. |
| A．To deepen the readers’ understanding of EC. |
| B．To encourage the reader to put EC into practice. |
| C．To guide the reader onto the path to career success. |
| D．To share with the reader ways to release their emotions. |
